Rex Ryan defends taking time off to attend Clemson game

Posted by Michael David Smith on September 2, 2013, 8:17 PM EST

AP

Jets coach Rex Ryan wasn’t at the team facility when final roster cuts were due on Saturday because he was attending the Clemson-Georgia game. Some members of the New York media have questioned whether that’s a good use of an NFL head coach’s time during an important point in the season, but Ryan said today that he stands by his decision to make the trip.

Ryan, whose son Seth is a walk-on receiver at Clemson, said that although Saturday was the deadline for the Jets finalizing the 53-man roster, they had actually done most of that work a day earlier.

“Almost all of our moves were made, Friday evening, when I was here,” Ryan said. “I talked to several of the players that we were going to release. I don’t think it was official until – we actually never made our moves until later that evening and that’s why the report came out when it did the next day. It came out Saturday. But certainly I spoke with most of our guys that were released just like I’ve done every year. I was very aware of our situation.”

Ryan said it was important to him to attend his son’s first college football game, even though Seth, as you’d expect for a freshman walk-on, is a bench warmer.

“This was an opportunity to go see my son play his first college game. I think ‘played’ is probably not very accurate. I saw him stand there,” Ryan said with a laugh. “But it was a great deal. Obviously, it’s not like I’m going to be able to go to another game. It just so happened I could make that one. It was a night game. That’s really what I did. I took advantage of it. It was great. I just played dad there for a day. That was a lot of fun.”

This isn’t the first time an NFL coach has faced questions about missing work to see his son in a college football game: In 1994, Cowboys coach Barry Switzer was criticized by his predecessor, Jimmy Johnson, after Switzer skipped a Saturday team meeting to watch his son play college football. Switzer lashed out at Johnson, saying, “My family is a priority for me, my kids are. Jimmy Johnson has told the world that his family doesn’t mean anything to him.”

You can say many things about Rex Ryan, but you can’t say his family isn’t important to him. And if that 53-man roster that was assembled on Saturday isn’t good enough, Ryan may have a whole lot more time to spend with his family next year.

If it was already done then it was done. Stop witch hunting, I’m sure the Jets will give us plenty of actual things to complain/laugh about throughout the season. This isn’t really… anything to bat an eyeball at however.

For crying out loud, would this even be worth a single line of media coverage if this were done by, say, the Chargers Head Coach, or the Cardinals Head Coach or the Raiders Head Coach, or on and on? Enough already.

His son might be a decent addition on special teams but the likelihood of him being a major contributor is doubtful. Although I will say that his footwork is superb, apparently that is something his father took an unnaturally strong interest in growing up for some reason, but he’s not the most athletic receiver on the team by far.

FinFan68 says:Sep 2, 2013 9:20 PM

Nothing wrong with what he did. If he did stay some people would have criticized him for not being there for his son’s first college game. He probably won’t make it to many more of them. The “work” was done already. The only criticism I might have about this is that he talked to “most” and not ALL the guys getting cut. I don’t know if all HCs talk to every one of the young kids that get cut, but they should.

They call it Pro Football for a reason people.!!!! Your Dumb Ass Clown of a coach so try to act like one. His son first game as a bench warmer Please.!!!! The water girls had more action than his bench warmer son had all game.

thepftpaperchase says:Sep 2, 2013 10:34 PM

thefiesty1 says: Sep 2, 2013 8:52 PM

Scouting Clowney for the first pick?
_________________________________

You must be a huge college football fan (LOL). BTW, which team was Clowney playing for that night?

We praise some coaches (and players) for putting in “28 hour days” in preparation for the next game. Others we blame the extended hours as a sign of mixed up priorities and the cause of their childrens drug problems and drug related deaths.

But if your team appears to be in shambles, and people wonder who is in charge, I think it is legit to question why he needs “time with is family.” He is not watching him play. He is actually not all that near him as he rides the bench and dad sits in the stands. He prolly doesn’t have much time to speak with him in person before or after the game.
It’s not this great bonding moment.
And though training camp has just ended and the coach has hopefully been a very busy man. He did just finish “spending time with his family” during the off-season.
I’m sure a great many other fathers, with less responsibilities, did not travel to see their son ride the bench for the first time this weekend.
Rex signed up for this.
If coaches of other teams did this, yes you would not hear the questions. Because odds are those coaches are/were not overseeing a pending disaster, and if they are, they didn’t go.

hvoigt21 says:Sep 3, 2013 4:05 PM

Good grief…..the jets fans get what they deserve…complaining about a coach going to his sons football…..for Christ’s sake,,,,give the man a break.